I am SO glad that Jon Tester won his Senate race this year, he sounds like a Great, average guy!

[Up2Late]

And I think he has almost exactly the same government priorities and "To Do" list as I do.

I live in Georgia now, but I grew up in Northern Indiana, but not on a farm, so it's not that we are from the same area or background. I don't know what it is, but he just sounds like such a "regular guy" for new Senator.

If you want to hear what I mean, check out the radio interview NPR did with him today at this link, I sware it will give you a glimmer of hope too:

<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6766860>

Sen. Jon Tester Starts His Newest Job

Listen to this story...(at link)
by Melissa Block

All Things Considered, January 9, 2007 · Jon Tester is one of the most distinctive new members of Congress — a big man with a flat-top haircut. He was president of the Montana Senate. And he's a third-generation farmer. His family's 1,800 acres are full of organic wheat, barley, lentils and peas. When he was 9 years old, he lost three of his fingers in an accident with a meat-grinder.

On a recent morning, the freshman senator from Montana starts the day with a bowl of fruit. He shares the meal with his wife, Sharla, in the townhouse they're renting on Capitol Hill.

After kissing his wife goodbye, he walks to the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where he and his fellow freshmen senators are entombed, on a dingy brown hallway across from the Senate stationery store.

These are only temporary quarters for Tester and his staff. They're waiting for Tester's office assignment, and he's dead last in seniority — number 100 out of 100.

(more and audio at link) <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6766860>

[EST]

1. The very last thing we need, right now, is any more "average"

"normal" people in government. I am very pleased that, from all I've read and heard, senator Tester is anything but average or normal.

Bush is a "normal, average" human, according to the blighted right, but he is a disease, a fungus who should never have been allowed anywhere near the reins of government.

[blm]

7. Heh, didn't someone say the LAST thing you want is your drinking buddy running the country?

I'd say that this country has been suffering that hangover ever since the corpmedia told them THAT was the standard that needed to be met.

[Up2Late]

2. kick n/t

:kick:

[janx]

3. It's the HAIR.

;-)

[LynneSin]

4. Why is he considered dead last unless?

I mean there are 7 new senators why Testor? Why not Casey or Webb or McCaskill or Klobacher, etc, etc.

Does it have something to do with the fact that Montana is the least populated of all the new freshmen states?

Plus wouldn't the lowest in senority actually be Bob Corker - the only new republican senator in a republican minority?

[Up2Late]

5. I think because his was the last race that was confirmed a victory.

His opponent "fought till the end." :spray:

[LynneSin]

8. Jim Webb was the last to get his seat

Maybe I'm wrong - it happens

[rockymountaindem]

6. It's because his state has the lowest populaiton

Salazar was in the same spot until this year.

[LynneSin]

9. Ok, now riddle me this

Since democrats are in the majority wouldn't Tester have senority over Corker. Corker is the only new incoming freshman rebublican and wouldn't Tester rate above at least him?

Kinda sucks for poor Jon :cry:

[rockymountaindem]

10. Not really

Senate seniority doesn't provide for party status. Corker represents a larger state, therefore he has higher seniority than Tester. In cases like this, though, it's more like Corker is first among equals (the equals being the freshman class), as none of them really have any seniority to speak of.

[greendog]

11. Jon's only 50 years old...

...he has many years ahead of him and plenty of time to acquire seniority.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Also, committee assignments aren't all about seniority

A lot of it is about who you are friends with and how valuable your seat is to maintaining the majority.